Why would a homeowner want to know when the best time to sell their house is? Because they want to get top-dollar, of course! A majority of people think the best time to put a property on the market is in Spring and Summer, but we’ve got news for you, this is a common misconception that doesn’t apply to the DC Metro Area, and is actually one of the factors that fuels a profitable Fall and Winter market.

You see, to get top dollar, you need low supply and high demand—this is basic economics. When real estate inventory is low, but tons of people want to purchase a home, you can ask for more money, and voila, you get top-dollar! So the question becomes, when is supply low, but demand high?

Let’s first discuss why Spring and Summer isn’t the best time to sell your home in the DC Metro Area.

If a majority of people think that Spring and Summer is the best time to sell, a surplus of houses hit the market during these seasons, making the supply skyrocket. Remember, we’re looking for low supply to fit into our equation for the best time to sell. Although demand might be high April-August, without a low supply, you’ll have a harder time getting top-dollar with fierce competition.

However, families still choose to put their homes on the market in these seasons because they assume demand is the highest during this time, but that’s simply NOT the case! The DC Metro Market, and its surrounding counterparts, are among the few places that can be characterized as “transient.” Transient describes an area where people are continually moving in and out all year long, meaning there are always buyers looking to purchase a home. Demand is ALWAYS high!

In conclusion, the best time to sell a home is in Fall and Winter! Demand is still very high because of our area’s transient characterization, and supply is low because people typically are only utilizing the Spring and Summer market. Moral of the story? Take advantage of our unique area this Fall and Winter and sell your home for top dollar! With the addition of the looming COVID-19 Pandemic, interest rates are still at record lows, which will prove to create a perfect storm, so to speak, in the real estate market.